Animal trap



.A ril13,1926. 1,580,583

W. CATLIN ANIMAL TRAP Filed Feb. 28, 1925 INVENTR Catlin ATTORNEYS WITNESS Patented Apr. 13, 1926.

UNITED STATES WINFIELD CATLIN. OF

- 1,580,583 PATENT OFFICE.

ANIMAL TRAP.

Application filed February To'aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VINFIELD CATLIN, a citizen of'the Jnited States, and a resident of Roclrville, in the county of Parke and State of- Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Animal Traps, of which the following is a spec1- fication.

My present invention relates generally to animal traps, and more particularly to a trap of small size, which will be strong and durable, may be easily and quickly set, will be positive and humane in its action, and may be easily and quickly adjusted so as to render it more or less sensitive in action.

A still further object is the provision of an animal trap which will be economical to manufacture and in use.

In the accompanying drawing which illustrates an embodiment of my present invention and forms a part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a front View of the trap showing the parts in "the set position, 4

Figure Qis a partial front elevation wlth the parts in the collapsed or sprung posi-' tion, and

Figure 3 is a detailed perspective view of the adjacent portions of one oft-he sprmg arms and the trip bar, showing the same detached.

Referring now to these figures, and particularly to Figures 1 and 2, I have shown atrap including in thepresent instance, a

' pair of normally contiguous parallel clamping arms 10 and 11, integrally. united at one end, by a loop or thelike 12, which not only forms an efiective point of connection for a trap anchoring chain or the like, but

also augments the action of the resilient or spring material of which the arms and the loop are formed. In its most important respect however, my invention may employ spring arms or actuating springs of other characters.

In the active position,.the free ends of the arms 10 and 11 are spaced substantially apart by means of a trip bar in sections 13 and 14 whose outer ends are pivotally connccted at 15 with the free ends of the arms. At their inner ends the sections 13 and 14 are pivoted at 16 to one another inthe overlapping relation shown especiallyin Figure 1, the overlapping end 17 of section 14 hav ing a set screw 18 adjustable thercthrough 28, 1925. Serial No. 12,886.

ROCKVILLE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CLARENCE 3 A. WEAVER, 01E HILLSBORO, INDIANA. V i

for engagement with the section 13 adjacent to the inner end of the latter whereby to limit inward swinging movement of the inner ends of the trip bar sections and in this way form a brace across the spread ends of the spring arms.

It is obvious that in forming the above brace no limit is placed upon the outward swinging of the trip bar sections except that the center pivot 16 between the sections 13 and 14 must bev shifted outwardly beyond a line connecting the outer pivots 15 before they can continue to swing outwardly under tension of the spring arms 10 and 11; It is this last mentioned movement which results in the collapse of the trip bar sections against one another and at the same time the collapse of the previously spread apart spring arms 10 and 11 against one another and it is likewise this movement of the parts which traps the animal by catching the same either between the trip bar sections or between the spring arms.

To set the trap it is necessary to force the free ends of the spring arms 10 and 11 away from one another and to facilitate such movement, these spring arms are at their free ends provided with integral angularly outstanding extensions 19 forming handles so that the before mentioned spreading of the spring arms may be accomplished without subjecting the operator to the danger ofbeing'accidentally caught therebetween.

By adjusting the set screw to more or less straighten the trip bar sections 13 and 14 in the set position, the sensitiveness of the trap in action may be readily controlled, it being obviously intended that the animal passing between the spring arms 10 and 11 will step upon the central portionof the trip bar and thus flex the bar at its center downwardly and outwardly which leads to the immediate collapse of the trap and secure gripping of the animal,

In order to avoid lengthy suffering of the animal, the trip bar sect-ions 13 and .14 may each be provided with a penetrating wrong or spur 20, these spurs having sharpens free ends and angular opposite ends and being arranged upon relatively opposite sides of the sections 13 and 14 so that the latter free-- 1y go together in the collapsed position as in Figure 2. Moreover, the angular ends of the spursare preferably threaded into the I that they may be turned to lie lengthwise along the sides of the trip bar sections when the 'trap is wrapped tor transportation in the first instance as well as when it is later to be carried from place to place in use.

At the point oi? bending of the spring arms 10 and l]. at their free ends to form the integral angular exten ions 19 they are preferably reduced to some extent laterally as shown in Figure 3, and the outer ends of the trip bar sections provided with side earsQi apcrtured "for the reception of the pivot pin 13 which, passes also through the reduced portions of the springarms just mentioned. This particular form of connection may, howcrer, be varied so long as a pivot permitting ready tlexure remains and the specilie details of the other connections may also be varied without interfering with the proper and intended functions and operations of the trap as outlined, and it is also obvious that my improved trip bar may be emploved with various types of spring arms and actuatingsprings such as used in many traps of general knowledge.

I claim l. An animal trap ha ving actuating spring members connected to one another at one end and a trip bar spreading the free ends of said spring members apart in the set position, the said spring meml'iers being collapsible tiatuise against one another and the rd trip liar including a pair of sections pivotally joined at their outer ends to the said free ends'ot the spring members and cooperatiin therewith to sup ort the spring members in upright position when the trap is set, said bar sect-ions being pivoted in overlappingrelation to one another at their inner ends to told and collapse outwardly away from the spring members, and fiatwise against one another in line with the collapsed spring members when the bar is tripped.

An animal trap including actuating spring members connected to one another one end and collapsible, flatwise against one another, a trip bar normally spreading the .iree ends of the spring members apart in the set position, and in sections collapsible fiatwise against one another outwardly away troin and in line 'ith the spring members, and penetrating spurs in connection with the sides of the trip bar sections and turn able with respect thereto whereby tl ey may be shifted to right angular positions in use and to positions in line with the trip bar sections when the latter are collapsed, tor the purpose described.

lVINFIELD CATLIN. 

